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TROY -- A man facing trial later this month for allegedly trying to murder his girlfriend changed his mind about representing himself during pre-trial hearings Monday.

David Greenfield, 56, dressed in jail garb, began the hearing sitting in the defense attorney's spot in the courtroom and paying close attention to Assistant District Attorney Ian Silverman's questioning of a 911 operator. But as the questioning progressed, Greenfield looked nervous and leaned over to whisper to public defender William Roberts, who was assigned to assist him. The two then switched seats and Roberts informed Judge Andrew Ceresia that Greenfield asked him to take over for the daylong hearing.

Last week, Greenfield angrily turned down a plea deal and told Ceresia he wanted to represent himself and did not want a public defender. After first rejecting the idea, Greenfield agreed to allow a public defender to sit by and help if he asked.

The 911 operator, Lynda Johnson, said Greenfield called at 5:47 a.m. July 8, and said he had stabbed his girlfriend, gave exact directions for police to find the apartment and gave his full name, even spelling out his last name. He then waited for police to arrive and pressed a buzzer in the apartment to let them into the building through the outside door.

When Johnson asked Greenfield how his girlfriend came to be stabbed, he answered ''I did it,'' according to a recording of the call played in court. ''She's in the bedroom. She's stabbed in the neck and chest area.''

His girlfriend, Ruth Morant, 51, survived the attack in an apartment they shared at the Taylor Apartments.

An officer who took Greenfield into custody testified that the man was covered in blood.

''He said they had been arguing for a while and he woke up and decided he could not handle it anymore,'' said Officer David Dean. ''He said he stabbed his girlfriend and the first stab woke her up. He also said he did not want a lawyer or anything like that.''

In other statements to police, Greenfield said he repeatedly stabbed the woman because he thought killing her would be easier than trying to leave her again.

Greenfield was indicted in August on charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The hearings Monday were to determine whether Greenfield's statements of guilt can be used against him. His trial begins Jan. 31.